Tomlin, Indians shut down White Sox
Send a link to a friend
[September 15, 2016]
CHICAGO -- Josh Tomlin's return
to the rotation was a success for the Cleveland Indians, who
defeated the Chicago White Sox 6-1 Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular
Field.
Cleveland, which lost the first two games of the series, has a
chance to earn a split in the finale Thursday.
The Indians (84-61) remain six games up in the American League
Central ahead of the second-place Detroit Tigers, who defeated the
Minnesota Twins. Cleveland's magic number for clinching is 12.
Tomlin, who was removed from the rotation during a stretch of poor
outings, earned the win in his first start since Aug. 30. Replacing
injured right-hander Danny Salazar, Tomlin went five innings and
allowed one run on four hits. He struck out two and didn't allow a
walk.
Four Cleveland relievers combined to hold Chicago scoreless in the
final four innings.
Left-hander Carlos Rodon started for the White Sox (70-75) and took
the loss after yielding six runs on nine hits and three walks. Rodon
was looking for his career-high sixth consecutive win and eighth
straight quality start, but both streaks ended. He struggled with
his location and served up a two-run triple by Jose Ramirez and a
three-run homer by Coco Crisp.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Sep/15/images/ads/current/Johnson-Lumber-sda-SHI-2016.png)
Ramirez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to extend his hitting
streak to 11 games. Crisp, who put the Indians up 6-1 with his homer
in the sixth inning, went 2-for-4 with a double and the home run.
Adam Eaton went 1-for-4 with an RBI triple for the White Sox, and
Melky Cabrera had half of Chicago's six hits.
Each team did its initial damage via triples by Eaton and Ramirez.
Eaton gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead in the third by tripling home
Tyler Saladino, but an inning later, Ramirez countered with a
two-run triple of his own in Cleveland's three-run fourth.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/091516pics/sports71.jpg)
Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin (43) throws against the Chicago
White Sox during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory
Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Ramirez also scored that inning on Brandon Guyer's bloop single off
Rodon to give the Indians a 3-1 lead. Ramirez made Rodon pay for
walking back-to-back hitters in front of him after getting the first
out of the inning on a groundout.
NOTES: Cleveland is expected to activate C Yan Gomes (separated
shoulder) from the 60-day disabled list Friday against the Tigers.
If so, he will catch RHP Corey Kluber. Gomes hasn't played for the
Indians since July 17. ... Cleveland RHP Mike Clevinger will not
have a set pitch limit when he starts the series-finale Thursday
against the White Sox. ... DH Justin Morneau didn't start for the
White Sox for the second straight game because of neck soreness. ...
White Sox RHP Zach Putnam visited with teammates prior to the game
Wednesday for the first time since having surgery Aug. 5 to remove
multiple bone fragments from his pitching elbow. Putnam isn't
expected to begin a throwing program until the offseason. ...
Chicago C Omar Narvaez hit fifth in the batting order for the first
time since making his major league debut Aug. 6. ... 3B Todd Frazier
was named the White Sox's 2016 Heart and Hustle Award winner, as
presented by the MLB Players Alumni Association.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Sep/15/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png) |